CPCC and Siemens Energy receive 2014 Faraday Award

last modified
Apr 15, 2014 09:11 AM

Electric Power and Prequalified Ready Employees for Power International (PReP Int) awarded Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) and Siemens Energy a Faraday Award, as part of their Veterans in Power initiative, at the 2014 ELECTRIC POWER Conference in New Orleans on April 2.

The Faraday Award recognizes and honors employers, programs and partnerships focused on elevating the careers of American veterans in the energy industry. A panel of judges, assembled by PReP Int and ELECTRIC POWER, reviewed several applicants’ programs and found Siemens’ efforts to hire veterans through CPCC’s Apprenticeship Charlotte program to be among the “best of the best” industry/education partnerships in the country.

“We are honored to be recognized for this award in conjunction with Siemens – a valued community and business partner,” said Bill Dillon, associate dean for Business & Industry Learning at CPCC. “This recognition further demonstrates our joint commitment to elevating the careers of American veterans within the energy industry and creating models that others may duplicate, so our veterans may find gainful employment in the workforce.”

In 2013, Siemens was seeking to build and develop a talent pipeline to address skills gaps in its workforce. The company approached CPCC because it wanted to place U.S. veterans, with a strong maintenance background, into one of the college’s apprenticeship programs.

With the assistance of a military staffing agency, Siemens identified four veterans who met their specific criteria. The individuals were enrolled in CPCC’s Apprenticeship Charlotte program and are currently attending CPCC, where they are taking Mechatronics degree program courses.

Siemens pays for each veteran’s tuition costs, while students earn a paycheck and receive intensive company-specific technical training and hands-on experience. The four veterans will finish the program in 2016 and become full-time Siemens employees following completion of the program.